CVE-2002-2422 in Insight Management Agent
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Compaq Insight Management Agents 2.0, 2.1, 3.6.0, 4.2 and 4.3.7 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a URL, which inserts the script into the resulting error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2024
The CVE-2002-2422 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Compaq Insight Management Agents across multiple versions including 2.0, 2.1, 3.6.0, 4.2, and 4.3.7. This vulnerability resides in the web interface components of the management agents that handle HTTP requests and generate error responses. The flaw manifests when the system processes user-supplied URL parameters without proper sanitization or validation, allowing malicious input to be embedded directly into error messages returned to the victim's browser. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of URL parameters that are subsequently processed by the management agent's web server component. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code, the agent fails to properly escape or filter the input before incorporating it into error messages displayed in the browser. This allows the injected script to execute in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the agent's own error handling mechanisms to deliver malicious payloads, making detection more challenging and the attack vector more insidious.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the ability to compromise the integrity of the management interface and potentially gain unauthorized access to the underlying systems being monitored. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands, steal administrative credentials, or manipulate the monitoring data to hide malicious activities. The Compaq Insight Management Agents are typically deployed in enterprise environments where they provide critical infrastructure monitoring capabilities, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking persistent access to network infrastructure. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, where attackers use JavaScript payloads to establish footholds in monitored environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-2422 should focus on input validation and output encoding practices that prevent script injection in error messages. Organizations should implement proper parameter sanitization for all user-supplied input, particularly URL parameters, and ensure that all error messages are properly escaped before display. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and the principle of least privilege in web application security. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation rules to detect and block malicious URL patterns. Additionally, regular security updates and patch management processes are essential to address such vulnerabilities in legacy systems, as this particular flaw was present in multiple versions of the Compaq management agents and required specific vendor patches to resolve the XSS vulnerability in the error handling components.